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Driving in Australia is an experience to be savoured. It is a way to experience the wide-open spaces and magnificent natural scenery, and there are so many destinations that can only be experienced by car. Before setting off you should make sure you are well prepared for the Australian driving experience.
All measurements in Australia are metric. Distances are in metres and kilometres, and speed in kilometres per hour.
Australians drive on the left side of the road and the majority of vehicles have the steering wheel on their right side. Around 70% of Australian cars are automatic transmission. When hiring a car manual transmission (stick-shift) is generally only offered as an option for the cheapest small cars. The gear stick in a manual transmission is operated by the left hand. The arrangement of the pedals is standard worldwide. In most cars, the indicator (turn-signal) stalk will be on the right side of the steering wheel and the windscreen wiper stalk on the left side of the steering wheel.
Driving conditions vary. Most Australians live on or near the eastern and south-east coasts. Roads within and between the cities and towns in these areas are sealed (paved) and well maintained, as are the main highways that join the state and territory capital cities. There are usually plenty of well marked rest areas on major highways, though these are usually very basic and do not always have toilet facilities.
In more remote areas (known as the "Outback") motorists may travel for hundreds of kilometres between towns or road houses without opportunities to refuel, get water, refreshments, or use toilets. In these areas, even on major highways, you will have to plan your trip, including fuel and food stops. Off the major inter-city highways, road conditions can be difficult in remote areas. Many roads are unsealed (gravel or sandy) and often poorly maintained. Some may only be suitable for four-wheel drives and some (including major sealed highways) may not be passable at all in certain seasons or weather conditions.
Motorists need to be self-sufficient and prepared for emergencies when travelling off major highways in remote areas and be aware that outside of major towns, mobile (cell) phone coverage will almost certainly be non-existent. A satellite phone may be a worthwhile and possibly life-saving investment in the most remote, lightly trafficked areas. Permits may also be required to travel through Aboriginal communities in certain remote locations, though these permits can usually be obtained for free.
Buy or rent a car?
A very rough rule of thumb can be:
- Less than 3 weeks: Rent a car.
- Above 3 months: Most cost effective to buy.
Tips for buying
Most of the tips for buying a car in Australia are the same as the precautions you would take anywhere. However, in Australia
- You should pay attention to the registration renewal date and the state in which it is registered. Different states have different fees and requirements for vehicle registration and renewal and it can be difficult to renew the registration when out-of-state. You need to register the car in the state you are "resident", and this can make buying a car registered in a different state a bit more difficult. If you are buying and reselling within a year, not having to renew the registration may make life easier for you.
- If you are driving through the outback, the more common and simple your model of car is, the easier it will be to repair and obtain spare parts. The Oodnadatta roadhouse will definitely have tyres for a Toyota Landcruiser, but they are unlikely to have the right tyres for a Volkswagen Passat, let alone any other essential parts. Waiting for parts to be delivered to a remote service station can mean a delay of a week or more to your plans and this is assuming the local mechanic knows how to fix your particular model.
- Perform a PPSR check to ensure there is no money owing on the car you plan to buy. If there is, you will inherit that debt from the previous owner. This check can be done on the internet and costs only a few dollars.
Tips for renting
- Check the restrictions of your contract as some rental car companies will only allow you to travel a certain distance per day without paying an extra fee per kilometer, or within a certain distance of the base.
- Not all rental car companies will allow you to drive their cars if you are under 21. Check any age restrictions.
- Some rental car companies will request that you do a free tourist driving rules quiz before you take the vehicle, or will accompany you on a short drive to check your proficiency behind the wheel.
- Check for any existing damage on the vehicle when you pick it up, and make sure that the rental vehicle office has a record of it so that you don't get charged for its repair when you return.
- Cars with a boot that you can hide items in are less likely to be broken into than vans and motorhomes. Unbranded cars that don't look like rental vehicle cars might also attract less attention.
- Shop around for the best price in relation to the length of time you are hiring for. Generally, if you need a car for more than a few weeks it can be cheaper to buy one and then sell it when you have finished with it, although you do need to be aware of the cost of insurance and maintenance during that time.
- If you are travelling between major cities then there are companies that will give you a car for free (you just pay petrol) and will give you a time frame in which to transfer the car between the cities as this saves them truck transport fees.
Legal issues and safety
Driving is regulated by state government authorities, but there is a consistent set of road rules across Australia. [1]
Drivers in Australia require a valid driving licence. Foreign licences in English are considered valid for driving in Australia for visitors for three months. If your licence is not in English, an International Driving Permit which is issued in your home country before arrival in Australia is required.
Australian licenses are issued by the respective state and territory governments. Visitors with licenses from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States may convert their foreign licenses to an Australian one after paying an administrative fee. All other foreign license holders are required to sit for a theory and practical test before they can get an Australian license.
Seat belts
Use of seat belts is compulsory for drivers and all passengers, and infants must be secured with approved safety capsules and harnesses. Seatbelt laws are enforced, and the onus is on the driver to ensure all passengers are buckled. Penalties apply to the driver of the vehicle, and include demerit points which may lead to a license suspension. A fine of around $250 per unsecured driver and/or passenger will apply.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% throughout Australia. Learner and provisional drivers are not permitted to have any alcohol in their system whilst driving.
As a general guideline: For most men, It is 2 standard drinks for the first hour and then 1 drink every hour after that to stay on the 0.05% limit. For most women, it is 1 standard drink for the first hour and then 1 drink every hour after that to stay on the 0.05% limit.
Police conduct random breath tests along both major routes and back streets, both in cities and in the country. A driver does not have to be driving suspiciously or have committed any driving offence to be stopped by police for a random breath test.
If you are caught driving under the influence of alcohol, you will have to make a court appearance. For a first offence, a fine and a period of suspension would normally be imposed if there are no aggravating circumstances. Refusing a random breath test is also an offence and similar penalties apply as for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Random drug testing is also conducted using a mouth swab.
In case of an accident involving injury or death to any person, the police and appropriate emergency response authorities must be contacted. Phone the Australian emergency number 000. The GSM standard emergency number 112 also works from any mobile phone. 112 will use any available network and will work even with an overseas GSM phone without roaming enabled. Emergency numbers from other countries (such as 911) do not work in Australia.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident in which a person may have been injured or killed, or where there is serious property damage, is legally required to stop and render assistance. The penalties for leaving an accident scene can be severe (up to 10 years imprisonment), even if you are not at fault. You must contact appropriate emergency authorities, but you are not required to give first aid if you have not had training.
Persons rendering first aid in good faith in Australia are protected by law and are not at risk of legal action against them. If you can help at an accident scene, always do so.
Motoring groups
Each State and Territory has a separate motoring group which offers roadside breakdown assistance, as well as comprehensive road maps, tourist guides, and useful motoring advice from their numerous branch offices. You need to purchase an annual membership in one of these associations to qualify for roadside assistance, but this can be done when lodging a call for help (with an additional fee). Each State association has reciprocal arrangements with the others, so a single membership will do for all of Australia. If you are a member of the local motoring group in your home country, you might be entitled to free reciprocal assistance, such as maps, from the various motoring groups in Australia. Check with your local motoring group before you leave.
- New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory: NRMA
- Victoria: RACV
- Queensland: RACQ
- South Australia: RAA
- Western Australia: RAC
- Tasmania: RACT
- Northern Territory: AANT
A different level of coverage with a higher fee is usually required to ensure useful assistance in remote areas.
Speed cameras are used in all states and territories of Australia, with some states using hidden cameras, others preferring highly visible ones. The strictest place for speed limit enforcement is Victoria, with mobile speed cameras hidden in unmarked cars, as well as hidden fixed cameras behind highway signage. The official tolerance in Victoria is just three kilometres per hour in excess of the speed limit. Police speed traps, and mobile patrols also regularly pull over cars for exceeding the speed limit. In other states, exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h or so will usually result in you being sent a fine notice of around $200 (and demerit points if driving on an Australian licence). Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h can result in a court appearance and possible criminal conviction. Red light and combined red light/speed cameras also operate at many urban intersections and a similar fine will result.
Fine notices are invariably sent to overseas addresses. Rental car companies often charge an administration fee if fines are incurred, and will pass your name on to the debt collection authorities. Your fine won't generally be pursued outside Australia, but you should consider the consequences if you wish to drive in Australia in the future.
City driving
Traffic in Australia's major cities can be congested. As in any other place, it pays to avoid driving in or around the Central Business District (CBD) during peak times when everyone is trying to get to or from work, or on freeways on long weekends (bank holiday weekends) when everyone is trying to get out of town.
The cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart are covered by a relatively good network of urban freeways that allow for rapid driving from the suburbs into the city centre.
Melbourne trams
A hazard unique to Melbourne's CBD and the inner suburbs are trams (streetcars). Melbourne is known for its extensive tram network. There are some tram-related rules which may not be immediately obvious.
Normally cars can drive in the same lane as the tram tracks, and there will be a broken yellow lane marker left of the "tram lane". The broken yellow marker means cars are permitted to drive in the tram lane. Sometimes, there will be a solid yellow line next to the tram lane. This indicates that cars are not permitted to drive in the tram lane. In this situation, there may be a sign overhead that specifies times when cars are not permitted to drive in that lane. If there is no sign, then cars are not permitted on the tracks at any time.
Tram passengers have right of way when crossing the road to or from a tram. You must stop behind the tram when its hazard lights are flashing and/or the doors of the tram are open, unless the tram is stopped at a fenced stop with barriers and a clear "safety zone" sign.
Related to the tramways is the "hook turn" which is unique in Australia to Melbourne's CBD. As many roads in Melbourne's CBD have tram tracks, turning right (remember, Australians drive on the left) suddenly presents a problem, as while you are waiting to turn, you would be in the tram lane, delaying the progress of several trams. To get around this problem, the "hook turn" was invented. This involves turning right from the left lane. Here is how to execute a hook turn:
- Approach the intersection in the left lane, and indicate to turn right.
- On the green light, proceed into the intersection as far left as possible (avoiding the pedestrian crossing). Move forward until you end up perpendicular to traffic waiting at the red light on the cross street (the street you want to turn right into).
- Observe the traffic lights on the cross street. Once green, you turn to your right and proceed as normal. The traffic you were previously perpendicular to will follow as you complete your turn.
Signs indicating whether a hook turn is necessary are hung off tram power lines at the intersection. Do not attempt a hook turn at other intersections.
Speed limits and school zones
Speed limits are signposted at regular intervals, and can change frequently. A default 50km/h speed limit applies in urban areas where there is no signposted speed. School zones have a 40km/h limit during school hours and these are clearly signposted; usually with flashing electronic variable speed limit signs. South Australian school zones are 25km/h. In some state, school zones on major highways may be signposted at 60km/h or 80km/h. In New South Wales, school buses feature flashing lights when picking up or dropping off children. This is to warn drivers to slow down, however unlike in the United States, you are not required to come to a complete stop. It is illegal to exceed 40km/h when passing a school bus in NSW with its lights flashing.
Traffic signals
It is illegal to turn left on a red traffic signal. In some states, it is illegal to do a U-turn at a traffic signal, unless there is a sign explicitly permitting. In Victoria a U-turn is permitted at any intersection with signals, unless signage specifically prohibits this.
Overtaking (passing)
Overtaking is permitted to the right hand side only, unless you are driving on a multi-lane road and the other vehicle can be safely overtaken in a marked lane to the left of that vehicle. If the signposted speed is above 80km/h it is illegal for a car to remain in the right hand lane on a road except whilst overtaking another vehicle. When the overtaking manoeuvre is completed drivers should move back into the left lane as soon as it is safe to do so. Where no such lanes are marked drivers must only overtake on the right hand side of the other vehicle unless the other vehicle is stationary turning to the right or signalling an intention to do so. Whilst overtaking you must not cross over any continuous (unbroken) centre line, continuous double lines or where the double centreline nearest to you is unbroken.
Many rural two lane highways feature an occasional third lane for safe overtaking. A yellow diamond sign will indicate with black arrows which direction has priority for overtaking in the middle lane. The single opposing lane may also use the middle lane for overtaking, as long as both oncoming lanes are clear and the centre line closest to the opposing lane is broken.
In mountainous areas of Tasmania, there are occasionally bays to the side of the road which are to be pulled into by the slower vehicle to allow traffic to pass.
On mountain roads and other roads where overtaking opportunities are rare, it is generally appreciated if you pull over to allow faster traffic to pass.
Parking in major cities can be difficult and expensive, especially in the CBD and around tourist areas, such as beaches. Even smaller towns may have parking hassles on popular market days and for events.
Commercial parking lot charges are common in capital cities centres, and operate on an hourly basis on weekdays, and often charging a flat fee on weekends or evenings. These can be very expensive in the CBD area.
Cities often have council operated on-street parking that involves a fee payable. There is either a meter that corresponds to the spot in which you have parked, or a ticket machine to buy a ticket from. These spots will have a sign indicating the maximum amount of time you can park there (paying the appropriate fee), and at what times the fee operates. Feeding meters (staying longer than the posted time by returning to the meter or ticket machine, and inserting more money or buying another ticket) is illegal and will result in the same fine as not paying the fee.
Parking is policed sporadically, with some areas regularly patrolled and others rarely, but you are never entirely safe parking illegally. Fines are of the order of $100.
Areas signposted as clearways, prohibit parking during peak times. Parked cars will be often be towed, adding a $100 recovery charge, and considerable hassle.
Areas marked as no stopping, no standing, bus zones or taxi zones are illegal to stop in, even to pick up and drop off. Areas marked as no parking zones are those in which you may pick up and drop off, but you can't leave your car.
If you are willing to park a few blocks away and walk, it is often possible to find free on-street parking in residential areas near some attractions.
Major capitals usually have good public transport within the CBD itself, and this is an alternative to driving between CBD locations once parked.
Some motorways, bridges, and tunnels in major cities require payment of tolls. On some roads, a cash payment can be made at tollbooths on the road, however increasingly there is a trend to electronic collection of tolls via transponders fitted inside vehicles. Some toll roads do not allow for cash payment at all. If you drive on such a road without a transponder, a photo is taken of your vehicle's number plate, and you have a limited time (between 24 and 72 hours, depending upon the road) to phone a number or visit a website and arrange credit card payment (plus an additional processing fee) before a fine is issued. Toll roads are clearly signposted and opportunities to exit are clearly delineated before reaching the first tolling point.
Avoiding toll roads may save you a few dollars, but you may pay in extra travel time, fuel cost, and navigation difficulties, particularly during peak travel times. If hiring a car, ask the agency for advice on toll roads. A single transponder can be used on any toll road in Australia, regardless of which company issued the transponder and which company operates the toll road you wish to travel on. There is no extra charge for travelling on another company's toll road.
Notably, Western Australia is completely devoid of toll roads.
If you encounter a roundabout and are from a country that doesn't have many of them, like the United States of America, here's a quick guide:
Give way. Give way to vehicles already on the roundabout: enter the intersection only when there is no risk of collision with a car on the roundabout coming from your right. On most roundabouts, this effectively means that you give way to cars coming from your right, cars coming from the opposite direction and turning right, and cars on your left going all the way around the roundabout.
Indicate. When two roads cross at a small roundabout, indicate left to go left, right to go right, and do not indicate if going straight. On a larger roundabout with more exits, don't indicate left until you are taking the next exit.
Select your lane. On multiple lane roundabouts arrows will usually be on the road indicating which lane you should choose to go which direction. Otherwise, just take the left lane to go left, right lane to go right, and either lane to go straight. Bicycles may stay in the left lane and go right, but if they choose to do this, they must give way to vehicles in the right lane exiting.
Rural driving
Outside of major cities and the main freeway between Sydney and Melbourne, Australian highways are mainly two-lane undivided sealed asphalt roads. While less than 15% of Australia's population lives in regional and rural areas, about 60% of fatal accidents occur on these roads because the speeds are freeway-like (speed limits vary between 100km/h and 130km/h) but the conditions are more dangerous than freeways because there is no barrier or division from oncoming traffic.
Some rural highways have regular overtaking lanes but on others you will need to pass slower traffic by pulling into the lane on the opposite side of the road, the one used by the oncoming traffic. Obviously, this should be done when there is no oncoming traffic present or approaching. It should only attempted when you have plenty of visibility, and it should be done as quickly as possible. Do not ever overtake by pulling off the road to the left as Australian drivers won't anticipate this even if the shoulder is paved - it is also illegal.
Some less major rural roads and outback roads are unsealed gravel roads. These are harder to drive on at high speeds and you will have to contend with the odd stone being thrown up. Windscreen damage is not unusual. Some rental car companies do not allow their cars to be taken off sealed roads, even if the unsealed road is an official minor road, others increase the excess or won't cover stone damage. Many gravel roads in the south are in good condition and experienced drivers tend to drive on them as fast as they would on the sealed roads. When on gravel it is essential to slow down well before a corner or you risk skidding as you turn. Loose or drifting gravel also poses a hazard as your tyres may lose traction as the gravel rolls or shifts under the tyres. If you feel you are losing control on gravel, slow down and try to avoid braking or turning sharply. Use your gears to slow down when you can. Roads in the northern tropics are often sandy, rocky or corrugated.
When you are driving on Australia's open roads you may see dead animals on the side of the road. The fact is, quickly swerving or braking heavily could cause a much more serious accident. Sundown and sunrise are times to be on the alert through the Australian bush, as well as regions where you will encounter water sources like rivers and reservoirs, or the plains surrounding mountain ranges.
If you come across multiple tyre marks on the road, this could suggest that animals regularly use this part of the road as a crossing, so just be a little more aware, and also, using the high beam head lights at night, will make it harder for an animal to find an appropriate escape route, so practice flicking them off for animals as well as for on coming traffic.
Slow down when approaching cattle grids as these may be bent, broken or deeply potholed on the approaches. Severe tyre damage or a broken spring can result from speeding over these grids. Leave gates shut or open as you have found them.
Do not enter creek or gully crossings without first checking for depth, dips and holes and finding the shallowest path. Water crossings in northern Australia (Far North Qld, Kimberley, Top End) are often inhabited by crocodiles so it is not advisable to walk these rivers. Vehicles are washed away more easily than most people realise.
Mobile (cell) phone coverage will probably be highly intermittent even on relatively major highways unless you are near a population centre. Check the coverage of the network you are using. If you can budget for it, a mobile phone car kit with an external antenna can increase your range. Again, consult the coverage charts to see where an external antenna may help. You can check the Telstra Mobile coverage maps for the roads you are travelling in advance.
Once away from the major centres you won't have broadcast radio. A collection of CDs is useful if you are used to music while you drive.
Some mountain and tableland areas of NSW and Victoria are noted for having very frosty nights that may cause diesel to solidify in vehicles causing the engine to stop or run abnormally. Usually vehicles will run normally without intervention, when the morning warms.
Outside of major centres, do not assume that fuel will be available late at night, in the early morning, or in some cases even on a Sunday. Even on some major regional roads, roadhouses may be closed late at night. If you are planning a long drive overnight, make sure you know where and when you are going to get fuel.
Speed limits
Maximum speeds vary between states and are normally signposted.
The default open road speed limit varies between states in Australia. Those default limits should always be observed in rural and regional areas where there is no signposted speed limit shown and the area has no street lights and is away from town ships or built up areas. It is generally best to assume that the default limit is 100km/h unless you are sure a higher limit is applicable.
When travelling on un-paved or gravel roads the posted limit may not be appropriate to the prevailing conditions. You should never presume the road is safe to travel at the posted speed limit, the actual safe speeds of travel on unsealed roads may vary tremendously within a short space of both time and distance due to current weather and/or road conditions. For this reason many gravel and dirt roads in Australia do not have speed limit signs posted lest they should mislead road users into believing that the posted speed is either achievable or safe. As an example of this, in Tasmania they do not normally install advisory speed signs on unsealed roads where travel speeds greater than 35 km/h can be achieved.
In the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland the default speed limit on an open road is 100km/h. In New South Wales the posted speed limit is normally 110km/h on motorways (freeways/tollways) in non-built up areas, high quality rural (divided) roads and (undivided) rural roads with low traffic volume in the western part of the state, other parts of the state are a default maximum speed of 100km/h unless indicated otherwise. In South Australia the default speed limit is 100km/h, though many major rural roads and state highways are posted at 110km/h. In the Northern Territory the default speed limit is 110km/h, with speed limits of up to 130km/h on major highways away from urban areas. In Western Australia the default speed limit for open areas is 110 km/h with a limit for freeways of 100 km/h unless zoned otherwise.
Road markings
The dividing markings on the road indicate if overtaking is legal. A broken dividing line indicates that you may move to the other side if the road to overtake if it is clear. A solid or double solid dividing line indicates that no overtaking is allowed and you may only move over to the other side to avoid an obstruction. A broken line next to a solid line means that you may move to the other side of the road to overtake if you are driving on the side of the broken line but not if you're driving on the side of the solid line.
A centre road marking appears to same as a lane dividing marking. It can be sometimes impossible to tell if you are on a two lane one-way road, or a two way road, just by looking at the current section of road, as the line markings are the same. This can be a hazard when divided roads change to single carriageway roads, and you have to remember what type of road you are currently on. If unsure, just stay left.
Distances can be a problem for the unprepared
Australia is a very big country, and while driving is a fun and interesting way to get around, you have to remember that it is a long long way to get from point A to point B. Taking the capital cities as an example, it is easy to drive from Melbourne to Adelaide in a day (8 hr), or Canberra to Sydney (3 hr) but driving from Melbourne to Sydney is a good 10 hrs solid driving. If you want to drive to Perth from Melbourne, you must use the Eyre Highway and cross the Nullarbor Plain, which means driving for approximately 3,500 km, including 2,000 km on a virtually dead straight, totally flat road with only a few roadhouses, each a hundred kilometres apart. You will have to spend at least one night on the road, so book in advance. The general advice is to have a rest every two hours 'Stop, Revive, Survive'. Always expect the unexpected and drive to the conditions. You should also be wary of your fuel supplies and always allow a generous reserve for unexpected contingencies. A good rule of thumb is to carry sufficient fuel to be able to turn around and return to the place you were last able to secure adequate provisions. Distances between fuel supplies can be extreme, even on main roads and conditions can change without warning. Check that you have a map indicating fuel outlets, petrol stations (gas stations) and local fuel depots providing either petrol or diesel fuel. Outback communities do not always have fuel supplies or they may be limited. LPG (liquid petroleum gas) may be un-available in some areas and in remote areas it is very unlikely to be found.
There is little traffic on back roads, but what there is will consist of a fair proportion of road trains (semi-trailers towing up to three trailers). They will not necessarily be able to quickly reduce their speed, as their effective stopping distance is often far too great. Do not expect a road train to be able to take rapid evasive action to avoid your vehicle, even if you have a technical right of way never pull out in front of a heavy vehicle, slow down rapidly or stop without ensuring you have left a clear path for the larger and much heavier vehicle to proceed unhindered.
In years past Australian motorists travelling on outback and isolated roads had a tradition of stopping or slowing to enquire as to another motorists welfare or assist if they were in difficulties. This sort of behaviour is declining and motorists now tend to travel at much greater speeds and with much lesser regard for the plight of others. You should always ensure you have adequate skills, resources and knowledge to deal with the prevailing situation on your own. If you do experience difficulties stay with your vehicle, do not wander off or set off cross country to summon assistance.
As an example, here are the distances from one state capital to another:
|Hume Highway (National Highway 31) through Albury-Wodonga
|860 km
|Princes Highway (National Highway 1) through Batemans Bay
|1,043 km
|Pacific Highway (National Highway 1) through Coffs Harbour
|964 km
|New England Highway (National Highway 15) through Tamworth and Armidale
|1,018 km
|Hume and Sturt Highways (National Highways 31 and 20) through Wagga Wagga and Mildura
|1,410 km
|Mitchell and Barrier Highways (National Highway 32) through Dubbo and Broken Hill
|1,659 km
|Newell Highway (National Highways 31, 39, 42 and 15) through Dubbo
|1,681 km
|Western and Dukes Highways (National Highways 8 and 1) through Horsham, Victoria
|724 km
|Princes Highway (National Highway 1) through Mt Gambier
|912 km
|Newell, Oxley and Mitchell Highways (National Highways 15, 42, 39, 34 and 32) through Moree and Broken Hill
|2,031 km
|Stuart Highway (National Highways 87 and 1) through Alice Springs
|3,019 km
|Eyre and Great Eastern Highways (National Highways 1 and 94) through Ceduna and Norseman
|2,695 km
|Brand, North-West Coastal, Great Northern, Victoria and Stuart Highways (National Highway 1) through Roebourne and Katherine
|4,166 km
|Hume, Sturt, Eyre and Great Eastern Highways (National Highways 31, 20, 1 and 94) through Wagga Wagga, Mildura, Port Augusta, Ceduna and Norseman
|3,942 km
Australia is the land of kangaroos, emus, wombats, feral camels, horses, rabbits and cattle. Sometimes these animals wander onto roadways. Kangaroos in particular will leap across roadways directly in front of vehicles, and are more likely to hop along the roadway than hop off it. Emus also run across roads and have no sense of how to get out of the way of a car. Off the main highways many roads run adjacent to farms that are unfenced, and stock on the road are common. Many animals caught in headlights come to a complete halt, but a short blast on the car horn may help startle them into moving off the road. Briefly switching off your headlights may also encourage them to move on. Most animal collisions occur at dusk, at dawn, or at night when some animals are more active less visible.
Drive carefully when you spot these big animals and be ready to use your brakes. Swerving to avoid an animal can also lead to fatalities, so if the choice is between hitting the animal or potentially losing control of the vehicle, hit the animal.
Most car hire firms impose a curfew on driving after sunset in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Often a collision with an animal has a higher excess (deductible) than other collisions. Away from cities and main highways try to be at your destination before nightfall. If forced to travel at night, keep your speed down.
Many vehicles in the bush have "bull bars", a rigid steel or aluminium frame, fitted in front of the radiator. These are to protect passengers and the vehicle in the event of a collision with an animal. If you do hit a native animal, stop if it is safe to do so. There are trained wildlife rescue groups in each state who care for injured and orphaned animals. If such an incident occurs endeavour to remove any dead or injured animal from the road if it is safe to do so and within your physical capabilities.
- NSW wildlife rescue, toll-free: 1300 094 737. WIRES
- Victorian wildlife rescue, toll-free: 1300 094 535.
Outback driving
If you are driving in the outback, be prepared for anything. Some roads have little traffic, so there may be a substantial amount of time before anyone will pass should you break down. There are few towns and petrol stations etc, so motorists need to make sure that they carry adequate and surplus amounts of food, water and fuel. The interior of Australia is a true desert, so if your vehicle has no air conditioning, you could suffer from common day time temperatures of 45°C (113°F) and past 50°C (122°F) on really hot days. Night time temperatures can drop to freezing. Even if you are travelling on well travelled outback roads, a small diversion of the main road to see an attraction may see traffic volumes reduce significantly.
Depending upon the estimated time of travel and the remoteness of the roads, it is wise to take at least 10 litres of drinking water per person per day of travel, and an additional 3-5 days of extra drinking water per person, in case of breakdown. Do not have all of your water in one container at any time. Shade material and very thick warm blankets are also important survival tools. A box of matches or cigarette lighter should always be carried when intending to travel into isolated areas. A fire can provide warmth and can be very helpful in attracting attention if lost or stranded.
Do not expect your mobile (cell) phone to work if you are in the outback. Large areas of the country do not have service. If you really go to the back of beyond hire a satellite phone, or a PLB (distress radiobeacon.)
Outback roads vary in quality and type. A freshly graded and wide gravel road can make for relatively easy driving. The same road several months later with rutting, corrugations and washed out creek crossings can be a nightmare for a 2-wheel-drive vehicle. The road reports will usually mention where there is rutting, corrugation, and washouts. Rutting is where the wheels of vehicles have worn away the road surface, meaning than low clearance vehicles can hit the bottom of the cars on the central raised section of the road. Corrugation is common on gravel roads that aren't freshly graded. Washouts occur when creek crossings see water flows since the road was last graded. The road surface is replaced by pebbles, sand and is uneven for the duration of the creek bed. Some outback roads are gravel and graded regularly. Others are unimproved dirt roads, where just a grader has been through, and the road base can be sand. It can be very difficult to tell the difference just by looking at a map. Some roads require a heavy duty 4wd (four-wheel-drive) vehicle for safe passage. One that is especially prepared for the trip with suitable equipment depending on the length, isolation, and roughness of the track. Advanced planning is required for such trips, you cannot just hire a passenger sedan and go. An SUV or soft road 4wd vehicle is not always suitable for roads marked as requiring a 4wd. Some outback road conditions may seriously damage anything other than a highly robust heavy duty vehicle to the extent it may become un-drivable, the occupants may then be exposed to some considerable inconvenience and risk.
Temperatures can be extremely hot during the day, and can drop drastically once night falls. Always go to the local police station when you are going off the sealed (paved) highway, and tell them where you are going and how long you expect to take. This will help them to look for you if you are stranded. Never ever leave your car when it breaks down in the middle of nowhere. In case of a long wait, it gives you shelter and it is a lot easier to spot a vehicle than a person walking in the bush. Also, a person uses about four times as much water when walking, and Australia is a dry country.
Beware of potholes and corrugations on gravel roads. Potholes are not always visible on sandy roads or those with a lot of bulldust. The road surface might seem quite even, but hidden potholes hit with sufficient speed can overturn a car. Corrugations are wavelike formations that form on a road surface when enough cars have been driven over it. At low speeds the car will be shaken to a degree that's almost unbearable. At higher speeds there is a risk of losing control of the vehicles steering and direction. In most cases, a speed of 50-60 km/h is a happy medium; not too slow and not too fast. Do not try to swerve around lizards or other small creatures as the car is likely to become very un-stable with a high chance of crashing.
Dust can also be a problem on unpaved roads, and heavy vehicles travelling at high speed often leave a trail of dust and small stones behind them, severely impairing visibility in vehicles behind them. As a precaution, do not tailgate. The significantly reduced visibility in dust storms caused by vehicles in front can have deadly consequences and any stones thrown up will become high speed projectiles.
Some two-way paved roads have only one lane paved, right down the middle. When approaching another car both of you are expected to move left off the bitumen onto the dirt at the side of the road, pass, and then move back onto the black. Be wary immediately after passing, as the other car will have stirred up a huge dust cloud which will lower visibility for several seconds.
Bulldust is a fine talcum powder-like dust that is very common on outback Australian tracks. Patches of bulldust look like smooth hard patches but in fact it usually is a fine covering of dust over a deep hole. Driving through bulldust at speed is very dangerous and must be avoided. It can cause damage if sucked into engines too, so in very dusty areas you should have a filter on your air intake and check it regularly.
Pay particular attention to the weather forecasts in outback areas and be prepared to stay put for a while if the weather sets in. Unsealed outback roads, especially, can be closed with little notice in the wet, isolating communities, at any time of year. Creek crossings are very common on outback roads, with dry creek beds. These creeks rise quickly after rain and can become impassable for several days. In the rain bulldust turns into a clay, which fills your wheel rims and can bring a two-wheel drive or a motorcycle to a grinding halt. Scraping out the bulldust and a bit of a push can sometimes get you on your way again, but it can be very tough going.
Respect road closures, even if the road or track appears traffic-able. The road may have been closed due to being damaged or impassable much further down the road. If you proceed you may end up having to turn back or become stranded at a remote location. Of course if you should experience difficulties then the chances of anyone passing by and rendering assistance are somewhat reduced if the road has been closed. Just find as comfortable a place as possible and wait for the conditions to improve and for the road to re-open, or seek an alternative route if available. Roads are sometimes closed to prevent them becoming seriously damaged by vehicles transiting them when the surface is too soft or slippery after rain. Do not cause damage to a road by continuing your journey and transiting a road or track when it is has been closed, especially if your vehicles wheels are leaving furrows or ruts. No one will be impressed that you made it through, rather you may attract the wrath and considerable disdain of other road users and possibly the local authorities for cutting up the road whilst it was too soft for traffic. Many roads and tracks in the outback are public thoroughfares passing over private property, parks, reserves or leasehold pastoral land, you may be asked to contribute to the costs of grading or repairing the road if you damage it due to reckless behaviour.
If you encounter a gate on a public road or thoroughfare in the outback it may have a sign on it (or nearby) advising of the roads entrance conditions and gate closure requirements. The Dingo Fence or Dog Fence is a notable example of such formal gating. This fence is one of the longest structures in the world and is the world's longest fence. It stretches 5,614 km (3,488 mi) from Jimbour on the Darling Downs near Dalby in Queensland through thousands of kilometres of inland Australia finally ending west of Eyre peninsula on cliffs of the Nullarbor Plain near Nundroo 160 kilometres west of Ceduna and 347 kilometres east of the South Australian-West Australian border. Any gate on this fence must be closed at all times other than when a vehicle is actually passing through the gate. Other gates range from very formal solid constructions down to humble bush gates using many different methods of closure. The rule with these gates is to always leave it as you found it. If it is open leave it open, if it is closed then you must close it again and ensure that it is done properly. Pay very careful attention when you first open the gate to ensure that you fully understand how to close it again. If you are travelling close behind another vehicle they may open the gate and then drive on, leaving you to close the gate. Pay careful attention to any such situation to ensure there is no confusion as to the status of the gate upon arrival (open or shut) and who is closing it, do not just drive off unless you can see the gate is being properly managed by others, traditionally the onus is upon the last one through to close the gate, however if you opened it you still have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that it is left as you found it including being correctly fastened. Heavy grazing stock losses or intrusion of feral animals may arise from incorrect gate management by travellers. In some cases penalties may be applied for not following correct procedures where closure is mandated.
Road trains
Road trains are a special hazard on Australian roads. These leviathans can reach lengths of up to 55 m, with up to four trailers, so treat them with care and respect.
Oncoming road trains should be given all the space they need. On asphalt roads, you should slow down and drive partly on the road shoulder if possible.
A road train coming up behind you should often be allowed to pass as well. When they overtake you at high speeds, they would often create a "vortex" which sucks you towards them. Therefore, be alert and stay in control of the vehicle at all times. In many cases overtaking a road train is not a good idea. If you have to do it, be sure to choose a nice long stretch of straight road where you can make sure that there's no oncoming traffic for about 2 km. On gravel roads there's only one piece of advice: don't.
When behind a truck on a long stretch of road, many truck drivers will indicate to you that there is no traffic ahead and therefore safe to overtake by flicking the right indicator light on once or twice. Treat this signal with caution as sometimes there is not enough space between you and the next oncoming car. Use your common sense. If you are equipped with a CB radio, you may be able to talk to the truckie and confirm the condition of the road ahead for safe overtaking.
Staying awake
Once you are outside the metropolitan areas, traffic tends to thin out and driving becomes relatively boring. The long straight stretches, the slowly changing scenery, and the fine weather on many through routes can be a recipe for drowsiness. Make sure you stop every couple of hours and, if possible, change drivers. On some routes local service clubs provide coffee and there are bill boards with road safety advice. These are there for a reason. People die on those routes from drivers falling asleep.
When you arrive in Australia allow for "jet lag". Do not leave your car heater or air-conditioner switched to "recycle" as this can make you drowsy and watch for other signs of fatigue (blurred vision, yawning). On summer evenings, you can usually leave the windows open, for the fresh air and smell of the bush.
Wet season
In the north of Australia, the period from November (sometimes even October) to March is considered the Wet Season. Many remote communities (and even some major towns on the Queensland coast) are completely isolated during the Wet, unless they have a landing strip for light aircraft. Rivers that are dry at other times of the year can overflow their banks due to extremely high rainfall.
Sometimes, bridges are washed out, or dirt roads are turned into muddy quagmires. Water levels can rise quickly from nothing to flooding. Notably, the Bruce Highway, which is the main road from Brisbane up through the Queensland coast to Cairns, is notorious for being cut for days at a time in many areas, mostly near Innisfail and Tully, which are both just south of Cairns.
Travellers intending to drive around the North should contact local authorities beforehand as they will know the most about local conditions. They will also be the poor sods called out to rescue you if you get stuck, so be polite. In Queensland, it is possible to go from Cairns to Cooktown via Mareeba or Mossman using an inland route, which is fully sealed and suitable for normal cars. If you intend to take the coastal route (starting just north of Cape Tribulation), you can't do it whenever it is raining, unless you have a serious four-wheel drive, preferably equipped with a snorkel.
If travelling around the north on unsealed (unpaved) roads, a powerful four-wheel drive vehicle is a must. Being bogged in the middle of the Outback can be fatal if one is not properly prepared.
(Thanks to WikiVoyage.org)


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Experts: Trained police needed for school security
The National Rifle Association wants armed volunteers in all US schools. But school safety experts and school board members say there's a huge difference between a trained law enforcement officer who becomes part of the school family — and a guard with a gun.
The student's attack began with a shotgun blast through the windows of a California high school. Rich Agundez, the El Cajon policeman assigned to the school, felt his mind shift into overdrive.
People yelled at him amid the chaos but he didn't hear. He experienced "a tunnel vision of concentration."
While two teachers and three students were injured when the glass shattered in the 2001 attack on Granite Hills High School, Agundez confronted the assailant and wounded him before he could get inside the school and use his second weapon, a handgun.
The National Rifle Association's response to a Connecticut school massacre envisions, in part, having trained, armed volunteers in every school in America. But Agundez, school safety experts and school board members say there's a huge difference between a trained law enforcement officer who becomes part of the school family — and a guard with a gun.
The NRA's proposal has sparked a debate across the country as gun control rises once again as a national issue. President Barack Obama promised to present a plan in January to confront gun violence in the aftermath of the killing of 20 Sandy Hook Elementary School students and six teachers in Newtown, Conn.
2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.
Agundez said what happened before the shooting in the San Diego County school should frame the debate over the NRA's proposal.
With a shooting at another county school just weeks before, Agundez had trained the staff in how to lock down the school, assigned evacuation points, instructed teachers to lock doors, close curtains and turn off the lights. He even told them computers should be used where possible to communicate, to lessen the chaos.
And his training? A former SWAT team member, Agundez' preparation placed him in simulated stressful situations and taught him to evade a shooter's bullets. And the kids in the school knew to follow his advice because they knew him. He spoke in their classrooms and counseled them when they came to him with problems.
In the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, school boards, administrators, teachers and parents are reviewing their security measures.
School security officers can range from the best-trained police officers to unarmed private guards. Some big-city districts with gang problems and crime formed their own police agencies years ago. Others, after the murder of 13 people at Columbine High School in 1999, started joint agreements with local police departments to have officers assigned to schools — even though that was no guarantee of preventing violence. A trained police officer at Columbine confronted one of two shooters but couldn't prevent the death of 13 people.
"Our association would be uncomfortable with volunteers," said Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers — whose members are mostly trained law enforcement officers who "become part of the school family.'"
Canady questioned how police officers responding to reports of a shooter would know whether the person with a gun is a volunteer or the assailant.
Former Rep. Asa Hutchinson, who also was a top Homeland Security official and will head the NRA effort, said the program will have two key elements.
One is a model security plan "based on the latest, most up-to-date technical information from the foremost experts in their fields." Each school could tweak the plan to its own circumstances, and "armed, trained, qualified school security personnel will be but one element."
The second element may prove the more controversial because, to avoid massive funding for local authorities, it would use volunteers. Hutchinson said in his home state of Arkansas, his son was a volunteer with a local group "Watchdog Dads," who volunteered at schools to patrol playgrounds and provide added security.
He said retired police officers, former members of the military or rescue personnel would be among those likely to volunteer.
There's even debate over whether anyone should have a gun in a school, even a trained law enforcement officer.
"In general teachers don't want guns in schools period," said Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, one of the two large unions representing teachers. He added that one size does not fit all districts and said the union has supported schools that wanted a trained officer. Most teachers, he said, do not want to be armed themselves.
"It's a school. It's not a place where guns should be," he commented.
The security situation around the country is mixed.
—Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he has the authority to mobilize private citizens to fight crime and plans to post armed private posse members around the perimeter of schools. He said he hasn't spoken to specific school districts and doesn't plan to have the citizen posse members inside the buildings.
—The Snohomish School District north of Seattle got rid of its school officers because of the expense.
—The Las Vegas-based Clark County School District has its own police department and places armed officers in and around its 49 high school campuses. Officers patrol outside elementary and middle schools. The Washoe County School District in Nevada also has a police force, but it was only about a decade ago that the officers were authorized to carry guns on campus.
—In Milwaukee, a dozen city police officers cover the school district but spend most of their time in seven of the 25 high schools. In Madison, Wis., an armed police officer has worked in each of the district's four high schools since the mid-1990s.
—For the last five years, an armed police officer has worked in each of the two high schools and three middle schools in Champaign, Ill. Board of Education member Kristine Chalifoux said there are no plans to increase security, adding, "I don't want our country to become an armed police state."
—A Utah group is offering free concealed-weapons permit training for teachers as a result of the Connecticut shootings. Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne proposed a plan to allow one educator in each school to carry a gun.
Ed Massey, vice chairman of the Boone County, Ky., school board and president of the National School Boards Association, said his district has nine trained law enforcement officers for 23 schools and "would love to have one in every school."
"They bring a sense of security and have done tremendous work in deterring problems in school," he said. "The number of expulsions have dramatically decreased. We used to have 15 or 20 a year. Now we have one or two in the last three years."
An officer, he said, "is not just a hired gun. They have an office in the school. They are trained in crisis management, handling mass casualties and medical emergencies."
He said a poster given out by the local sheriff's department shows one of the officers and talks about literacy and reading.
Kenneth Trump, president of the National School Safety and Security Services consulting firm, said having trained officers in schools is "more of a prevention program than a reactive program if you have the right officers who want to work with kids."
But he also criticized a drop in funding for school security, saying, "Congress and the last two administrations have chipped away to the point of elimination of every program for school security and emergency planning."
Dr. Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center that provides training to schools, said the NRA's suggestion of using volunteers "is a whole new concept of school safety." He questioned whether the NRA wants to bring the best sharpshooters on campus.
"How is that going to create a positive atmosphere for young people?" he asked. "How does that work on the prevention side?"
Agundez, 52, who retired as a policeman in 2010, learned shortly before his retirement just how much his trained reaction to a shooter affected students at Granite Hills High.
He was writing a traffic ticket and the driver's whole body started shaking. He had been a student that day nine years earlier.
"He gave me a hug," Agundez recalled. "He said 'I always wanted to thank you.' You saved our lives."
Associated Press writers Todd Richmond, Michael Tarm, Greg Moore, Ken Ritter, Sandra Chereb and Donna Blankinship contributed to this report.
2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.

subset: commoncrawl


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For the last few weeks I've been concentrating my genealogy research on my Cottam, Bagot, Mashiter and related surnames in and around Lancaster in Lancashire, so I thought I would mention them today for Surname Saturday.
My great great grandfather John Bagot Cottam married Adelaide Herbert in Manchester in 1858, and in 1863 they emigrated to Durban with their three daughters, Maggie, Ada and Jessie. In Durban they had another five children.
John Bagot Cottam was the son of Richard Cottam and Margaret Bagot, who came from around Lancaster, in the north of Lancashire. I've been going through the microfilms of parish registers to try to find their origins, together with the registers that have been transcribed by the Lancashire Online Parish Clerks.
I note each instance of records of the surnames of interest in a database, whether known to be related or not, and then try to connect them into families with the help of census records. FreeCEN has relatively complete records for the 1861 census, and FamilySearch has for the 1881 census. This also helps to get the names into families, which I keep in a lineage-linked database in the Personal Ancestral File (PAF) program, which is free. I have a separate database for Lancashire research, and throw everything in, whether the people are related or not. When I think there is enough evidence of a confirmed relationship, then I transfer them to my main database in Legacy.
The Cottam surname goes back to the mid-18th century in Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, just west of Lancaster, but before that they seem to have come from somewhere else. The Mashiter surname goes back a bit further. Heaton-with-Oxcliffe was in the parish of Overton, but Lancaster was almost as close as Overton, so some members of the families were baptised, married or buried there. Using Lancaster as the centre, I am working outwards and checking other parishes to see if I can find where the Cottams came from.
Here are some of the other surnames in the area that members of my families have married into:
Lord, Barnet, Parker, Atkinson, Richards, Monks.
Variant spellings include Cotham, Cottom, Bagott, Baggot, Baggott and Masheter.
Some of the related places mentioned in the register and census entries are Poulton-le-Sands and Bare (now Morecambe), Heysham, Sunderland, Scotforth, Ellel, and Skerton.
Filed under: Bagot family, Cottam family, genealogical research | Tagged: Bagot, Bagot family, Cottam, Cottam family, genealogy, Heaton with Oxcliffe, LAN, Lancashire families, Lancaster, Lancs, Mashiter, research, Surname Saturday, surnames | 4 Comments »


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Quoted in the Capital Times (a Wisconsin newspaper) under the headline "Some say efforts to boost mental health treatment to combat gun violence are misguided." Also quoted, Jeri Bonavia, director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort:
"We know that there are some problems with getting mental health records into the background check system, and I think that needs to be addressed," she says. "But it can't be that we turn our attention just to mental health issues related to gun violence because people suffering from mental illness make up a very small percentage of the perpetrators of gun violence."....
A poll this week by Quinnipiac University shows that more than 90 percent of American voters support background checks for all gun buyers, which would close the so-called gun show loophole. And that's where Bonavia says Wisconsin should be focusing its effort. Her group is currently in the midst of a petition drive to urge Walker to propose background checks.So first Bonavia implies that we ought to make policy based on the percentages. But then she says, make a pervasive law that applies to everyone, without mentioning the very small percentage of perpetrators of gun violence within the truly vast category of Americans who buy guns. And by the way, the category "gun violence" lumps things together. Gun control has become a hot issue because of a few massacres. If you make a category out of the set of incidents that has inflamed present-day opinion, people suffering from mental illness seem to be 100% of the perpetrators! You only get your very small percentage if you throw in other types of incidents, such as gangsters wiping each other out. Wake me up when 90% of Americans want to do something about that. And explain to me how background checks have any curative power over that problem.
The appeal to statistics and reason falls flat when you shape it to suit the policy you already want.
"Only 4 to 5 percent of violent crimes are committed by people with mental illness," Dilip Jeste, the president of the [American Psychiatric Association], says in a statement. "About one quarter of all Americans have a mental disorder in any given year, and only a very small percentage of them will ever commit violent crimes."See what I mean? Questions for Dr. Jeste: 1. What percentage of school shootings are committed by persons with mental illness? 2. If we cut the category "violent crimes" down to massacre-type shootings where the motive isn't robbery and the victim isn't someone with whom the shooter has a personal dispute, what percentage of those crimes are committed by persons with mental illness? 3. If we break the category "mental disorder" into subparts, so that depression and schizophrenia aren't lumped together, is there any category within which you cannot say that only very small percentage will ever commit violent crimes? 4. In your effort to shield the mentally ill from unnecessary stigma, are you giving cover to a set of persons who could and should be identified as dangerous? 5. What are the interests of the psychiatric profession that could affect whether you are giving truly honest answers to all of these questions, including this one?


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text:
Recently I ordered some digitised Inquest records including those of my ggg grandmother Ellen Barry. You may remember from the post A Tragic Night, Ellen burnt to death in a house fire, her drunkenness contributing to her demise.
The various newspaper articles from around the country gave good coverage of the fire including the findings of the coroner's inquest and her movements on the night of her death. I hoped that the inquest record would give me more. The copy of the inquest proved worth it but since then Trove have released The Colac Herald (1875-1918) and an extensive article including transcripts of the witnesses evidence. Therefore, rather than me describe what the witnesses had to say about Ellen, I can include their statements as found in the Herald
The first witness statement was from Dr Adam who examined Ellen's badly charred body. Even though unrecognisable , he was able to show the body was a woman and she was around five feet tall.
The next statement was from mounted Constable Charles Magor from the Colac Police station. By the time he arrived, the house had burnt to the ground. He found what looked like a body and removed it, "carefully" , I might add, to the home of Ellen's son George Gamble who lived a few doors away.
After the official witnesses, members of the public where then called, the first being Barongarook man William Heron. He and his wife were travelling home from Colac around 11pm on January 24 when he noticed a light in Ellen Gamble's window. Interestedly he had seen Ellen at 9pm and to him, she appeared completely sober.
There is still a lot I don't know about my ggg grandfather, Thomas Gamble save for fleeting mentions in Colac history books, some court records and more recently his obituary. From the reports of Ellen's death that I had initially found I had questions about their living arrangements, with Thomas supposedly living in another residence in the town. His inquest statement reveals a little more:
Thomas Gamble had a greengrocer's shop in Gellibrand Street, Colac. Ellen had visited him at the shop on January 24th, a visit which seemed more like that of a shopper not a wife. It is not clear if she paid for the items, however she requested vinegar and the very objects that helped contribute to her death, candles. She also wanted bread so Thomas gave her 3 pennies to buy a small loaf on the way home. After a drink of ginger beer she left with Mary Lennon who had also been in the shop. Thomas noted that Ellen appeared sober then, between 5 and 6pm. Mary Lennon in her evidence also said she thought Ellen appeared sober.
George Gamble then gave his evidence. Ellen had wanted him to drink rum with her but he declined and Ellen went home.
Finally evidence from George's wife Mary-Ann including reference to Ellen's grand-daughter Mary Ann as mentioned in A Tragic Night. She was lucky she was not also burnt death with her grandmother.
It's great to have the Colac Herald online at Trove, but I hope I find some good news stories about my Gamble family soon. Currently my Electronic Friend is sending me stories of Ellen's court cases with the most recent from her 33rd appearance before the Colac Police Court.


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Flash memory continues to shrink in size and grow in capacity. Hard disk drive technology continues its inevitable march toward greater areal densities, and hybrid drives are being purchased in greater numbers. Hewlett-Packard is busy at work on a new type of storage, one based on fancy little things called memristors, which may hit the market in the mid-term.
There's a lot happening with solid state storage, and a lot more set to happen—but some serious problems need to be solved first.
It's getting small in here
For electronics, smaller is almost always better. Moore's Law—which says that the amount of transistors one can cram into a given amount of space tends to double about every eighteen months—still holds roughly true for NAND flash. SSDs based on a 25nm or 20nm manufacturing process are common today, and in early June, Toshiba announced a line of SSDs based on a 19nm process size.
The advantages of smaller flash are huge, since material costs money—and more flash can go on a single chip, which most obviously means bigger drive sizes. Even better, smaller floating gate transistors use less electricity and operate more efficiently, and gains in power efficiency are extremely important for flash memory's most important growth area: the mobile market.
When coupled with the eventual switch to TLC (triple-level cell) flash over the current MLC (multi-level cell) flash, the future should look rosy: physically smaller, higher-capacity SSDs which use less power. We can't lose!
Resistance becomes futile
Ah, but things are never that simple. SSDs have that proverbial Achilles' heel: the more writes their cells experience, the closer those cells get to dying.
As we discussed at length in the first article in this series, a flash cell is a specific type of transistor called a floating gate transistor. It has a specific feature (the actual floating gate) into which electrons can be stuffed to alter the transistor's threshold voltage, which is the potential difference that must be applied to the transistor in order for it to conduct electricity. The presence or absence of charge in the floating gate, and hence the existence of a high or low voltage threshold, determines whether or not the flash cell holds a 0 or a 1.
However, the process of coaxing electrons back out of the floating gate once they've been coaxed into it requires quite a bit of voltage, and some electrons are left behind in the floating gate every time. These extra electrons aren't a problem at first, but over the life of the flash cell, their presence can substantially alter the cell's electrical resistance. When a cell gets written to, it must be able to pull electrons into its floating gate in a very small amount of time; as its resistance becomes greater, the controller has to use greater and greater amounts of current to get the electrons to jump into the cell. Eventually, the amount of current required becomes so high, and the amount of time it takes for the electrons to jump into the cell becomes so long, that the cell can't be written to anymore.
As flash cell process sizes decrease and the cells themselves get smaller, we still face that fundamental problem. Worse, it's a problem that shrinking manufacturing process size actually makes worse. As flash cells get smaller, they retain a commensurately smaller amount of residual charge before they must be marked by the controller as useless. This dampens the enthusiasm for smaller flash chips quite a bit.
The number of bits stored in a flash cell makes a difference here, too. The most basic and reliable form of flash, as we've previously discussed, is SLC (Single Level Cell) flash, which stores a single bit in each floating gate. If the gate holds a charge, it represents a 0. If the gate holds little or no charge, it represents a 1. SLC flash is fast to read from and write to, since the cells just have to report on whether or not they contain a charge. More importantly, SLC flash cells can sustain the greatest number of writes, because pumping electrons into and out of the cell doesn't have to be done with great finesse and attention to differing charge levels. The entire process is less sensitive to the cell's accumulated charge.
Multi-Level Cell (MLC) flash stores two bits to SLC's one, and it does this by having not just "no charge" versus "some charge," but rather by having four discrete voltage levels—little to no charge for 11, some charge for 10, a bit more charge for 01, and even more charge for 00. With MLC, the flash cell becomes a lot more sensitive to changes in its resistance, because read and write operations have to be carried out more carefully—it's not just "pump in some charge," but instead pump in specific amounts of charge.
Additionally, the increased density of MLC guarantees that the individual NAND cells will undergo more writes for the same amount of data. The MLC drive has fewer NAND flash transistors for a given amount of storage, so a workload run on a 100GB SLC disk and on a 100GB MLC disk will make the MLC disk work harder; there are simply fewer transistors to bear the write load. The difference is dramatic, too. The average cell life in an SLC SSD is 100,000 writes, while a good 20nm MLC backed by a good controller will bear perhaps 3,000.
Can the situation get even crazier in future? It certainly can. TLC flash—that's "Triple Level Cell"—cranks up the density even further, storing three bits in each cell. This is done by keeping track of eight different voltage levels per cell—000, 001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110, and 111. TLC cells have been around for quite some time but aren't yet used in consumer SSDs because there are significant engineering challenges in making them work well. For one thing, error correction algorithms need to be modified; for another thing, they're currently only good for a few hundred program/erase cycles. In order for TLC flash to be viable in consumer devices, SSD controllers will need to be incredibly stingy with writes and will have to take extraordinary measures to keep write amplification to a minimum.
TLC flash should enable bigger SSDs at lower costs, but the engineering challenges are formidable. And it gets worse when we consider the possible limits to flash technology.


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20 Ways to Create a Home Office Space
Maximize a space
Why do some offices—even tiny ones—seem to actually help you be more productive? Because they nail the details, such as using a rug to define your office in a multiuse space and painting the walls the right shade to put you in a creative state of mind. Read our 12 tips to get the most out of your home office.
Renovation reward
When Michigan design editor Michelle Adams modernized her 1920s Colonial, crews found wood planking under drywall in the office space—an unexpected design gift.
Spare bedroom space
Add an elegant table to a spare bedroom for a polished look and functionality. Keep the desk embellishments simple; this homeowner opted for just a lamp and vase of flowers.
Hallway station
This adorable desk offers both decoration and organization. The stylish lamp and accessories' bright colors coordinate perfectly with the wallpaper and rug.
Closet transformation
Make over a closet into cozy office space. We suggest removing the closet door and replacing it with a curtain. Paint the inside of the closet, and add shelves and wall art. Best part? Close the curtain to leave the office for the day.
Spare corner
Create a whole office space in one corner. Wheeled storage units fit snugly under the desk. Mix art and organization by hanging framed pictures on one wall and a bulletin board on the other.
All-purpose space
Fabric-covered corkboards, pegboards and a chalkboard make a colorful backdrop for kitchen organization, storage and message space. We love pegboards for hanging supply cups and bins for desk supplies.
Entryway simplicity
Tight on floor space? Opt for a sleek stand near the door. It's perfect for sorting mail or paying bills before you head out.
Floating desk
This suspended desk creates a work area in a small space. Old bed springs and repurposed kitchen items make eye-catching accessories.
Organized vintage
Wire baskets attached to an old barnwood plank organize odds and ends above a desk. A framed chalkboard displays quotes.
Attic office
Create an office in the attic for a private work space. This out-of-the-way area is perfect for a slightly messier desk.
View finder
Scandinavian cottage style inspired this light-filled office. Above the desk, casement windows and transoms built as one unit continue the crisp wainscoting lines.
Double-duty table
For minimal office storage needs, cover an old table with a stylish slipcover and some fun table-toppers. Store office supplies underneath and bring them out as needed.
Basement office
Section off a work area with a colorful rug. Comfortable chairs add a homey look, while cabinets offer some serious storage.
Entryway catchall
This decorative entryway desk is a catchall for mail and keys, plus it offers a handy place to sit and get organized. Choose a chair that tucks underneath for clear traffic ways.
Moveable office
Choose a small wheeled storage unit if you need your office to be on the move. Pay bills in the kitchen; move to the desk to the living room for scrapbooking.
Cupboard organization
If you need storage more than workspace, a cupboard like this may be the solution. The cabinet houses a printer, sliding trays for office supplies and labeled containers for each family member.
Flexible workspace
This combination of an elegant small desk and upholstered chair would work well in a dining room, living room or hall. If the desk is in your dining area, just move the chair to the table when you need extra seating.
Eye-catching office solution
Make your desk a statement piece. This lean-to shelving and desk unit's dark wood pops against the navy wall. The desk and storage space also preserve floor space.
Streamlined desks
This homeowner created a wall of attractive office space in a bedroom by adding clear chairs and simple, streamlined desks.
Kitchen cubby
This small kitchen desk multitasks as a message center, homework area and organization station. The seating offers additional storage -- and tucks under the desk to preserve traffic flow.
Small space organization
Stack storage if your office space is limited. Hide clutter inside colorful storage bins and behind the curtain under the desk.
Garage workspace
This homeowner set up shop in the garage using simple industrial desk and shelves. When the weather's nice, open the door for a great view.


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The deal keeps Letterman on the air well beyond the exit of rival Jay Leno, who is being replaced next winter at NBC's "Tonight" show by Jimmy Fallon.
Letterman joked on Friday that he had a lengthy talk with CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves and that "we both agreed that I needed a little more time to fully run the show into the ground."
Letterman already has the longest tenure of any late-night talk show host in U.S. television history, 31 years and counting since he began at NBC in 1982.


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Looking for a liquid foundation brush? We've got you covered! An Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, the F80 Flat Kabuki™is a favorite among PROs and beauty lovers, alike! "Sigma's F80 brush is a must for anyone who uses liquid foundation," according to Allure. With brushes for everything from face makeup and foundation, to contouring and pinpoint concealer, our face brushes are #1 in quality and innovation!
Face Makeup Brushes
Achieve a perfect complexion with our high-quality makeup brushes for your face, featuring ultra-soft synthetic fibers, patented ferrules, sleek handles and a free 2-year warranty. Beloved by the industry's top beauty editors, influencers and professional makeup artists, these brushes can't be beat! Our award-winning foundation brush, the F80 Flat Kabuki™, is the best cream or liquid foundation brush on the market. Another award-winning product is our F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter™, the perfect highlighter brush for a stunning glow. No matter what you're looking for, from a foundation brush for powder, to a cream contour brush, our selection of innovative beauty tools will create your most flawless look yet!


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Looking for Topman Survey? Or Do you want to complete Topman Customer satisfaction survey or Topman Guest Feedback? Here I have given step by step guide for complete Topman customer satisfaction survey and Topman guest feedback at www.topman.com/
You can win reward and gift card for complete Topman Survey. Nowadays almost every brand and company want to know their customer feedback to improve their product and services and this is possible only when real people and their customer give feedback about their services and product.
Topman Customer Satisfaction Survey and Guest Feedback @ www.topman.com/
As we all know the companies of various products or any kind of stuffs are increasing day by day. And if you are among the one who is buying or purchasing through the brands or well-known companies then here is the exclusive option for you people to make profit by taking part in survey. The steps for survey is given……………………….
Well the survey is the process that can be filled by any customers because at last the company wants to know their customer satisfaction level. You are the lucky one if you get the chance to take part in survey. Because you are also benefited by this survey process. Win surprising prizes and offers or even the discounts are offered to the customers who completes the survey process. It takes your few minutes but you are offered rewards on your next purchase.
Topman is a fashion retailer, selling on-trend clothing, shoes and accessories exclusively for men. The British company opened their first store in 1970 and have since turned into an international retailer, with stores in the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain and Ireland to name a few.
Rules And Requirements:
- You must have the receipt with offer invitations.
- your age must be more then 18.
- You can take part within the given period of time.
- Eligible for one receipt, used once, per email.
- You must have mobile/ laptop or Pc with an internet access.
- The area or the region is fixed for the related companies.
Step Guide:
- Visit the official link.
- Read the instructions or official rules if given.
- Choose the language and mainly you must understand English language.
- Enter the survey number from your receipt.
- You must use the receipt of your recent last visit.
- You have to rate hem from highly satisfied to Highly dissatisfied.
- Customers are asked to rate about the quality, service they experienced from satisfied to dissatisfied.
- Rate the interior quality and environment you experienced, cleanliness, even the behaviour of staff members, how the staff members behaved with you.
- You can mention the issues or problems that you faced during buying or purchasing any kind of stuffs.
- Answer all the questions honestly and genuinely.
- Proceed further and you be asked to input the email for receiving the validation code.
- Note the validation code you must have received.
- Take the receipt along with you on next visit.
Reference Links
- Kinney Drugs Customer Experience Survey Link: www.topman.com/
- Kinney Drugs Official Site: www.topman.com/
You can also post query related Topman Customer Survey gift card and Topman survey reward prize then you can comment below and also share it with your friends on social media and WhatsApp. This will help them to win an extra prize and reward just for giving an opinion about Topman Customer Survey.


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Top-Rated Algebra Tutors in DORAL, FL And Nearby
Our DORAL Algebra tutors are top college students and graduates from local area universities. They have an average GPA of 3.5 or higher in their areas of tutoring specialization. At Frog Tutoring, we work with students in all grade levels and our DORAL private Algebra tutors provide customized one on one in-home tutoring through our proven three step approach to academic success.
1.Bring student up to speed by reviewing past work to ensure they are not missing any important concepts that might affect their abilities to learn future lessons. 2. Keep student ahead of the class by using the teachers lesson plan, textbook, and online curriculum to cover lessons before it is taught in class. 2. Reinforce key concepts they might have missed. This ensures they will never be behind again. Your tutor will also help with organization, study skills, and note taking strategies.
Your DORAL area Algebra tutor will also track student progress through detailed session reports which will be available to you at the end of each tutoring session. If it is okay with you, your tutor will contact your child's teacher, for K-12, to get a more detailed understanding of what they are struggling with and also to make sure that he/she and the teacher are both on the same page in their approach to tackling the problem.
Browse our list of qualified Algebra tutors below. If you are in need of an Algebra tutor in DORAL, please call us or simply go to the tab above and Request a Tutor and let us help provide the understanding and assistance needed for success.
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Near by tutors: Miami Algebra Tutors, KENDALL Algebra Tutors, Fort Lauderdale Algebra Tutors, AVENURA Algebra Tutors, MIAMI BEACH Algebra Tutors, Hollywood Algebra Tutors, Coral Springs Algebra Tutors, SUNSET Algebra Tutors, Miramar Algebra Tutors, Pembroke Pines Algebra Tutors, OJUS Algebra Tutors, THREE LAKES Algebra Tutors, Hialeah Algebra Tutors, Miami Gardens Algebra Tutors, KEY BISCAYNE Algebra Tutors, MIAMI LAKES Algebra Tutors, BAL HARBOUR Algebra Tutors, INDIAN CREEK Algebra Tutors, Pompano Beach Algebra Tutors, GLENVAR HEIGHTS Algebra Tutors, MIAMI SHORES Algebra Tutors, SOUTH BEACH Algebra Tutors, BAY HARBOR ISLAND Algebra Tutors, PALM SPRING NORTH Algebra Tutors, SURFSIDE Algebra Tutors, SUNNY ISLES BEACH Algebra Tutors, THE CROSSINGS Algebra Tutors, VIRGINIA GARDENS Algebra Tutors, CORAL GABLES Algebra Tutors, North Miami Beach Algebra Tutors


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21 Genes Tied to Cholesterol Levels
Published on in CHOP News
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Published on in CHOP News
October 11, 2012 — In the largest-ever genetic study of cholesterol and other blood lipids, an international consortium has identified 21 new gene variants associated with lipid levels. The findings expand the list of potential drug targets for lipid-related cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of death and disability.
The International IBC Lipid Genetics Consortium used the Cardiochip, a gene analysis tool invented by Brendan J. Keating, PhD, a scientist at the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Since its creation in 2006, researchers have used the Cardiochip to pinpoint gene variants in dozens of studies. The device contains approximately 50,000 DNA markers across 2000 genes implicated in cardiovascular disease.
Keating and Fotios Drenos, PhD, of University College London, are senior authors of the current study, published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Comprising more than 180 researchers worldwide, the consortium analyzed genetic data from over 90,000 individuals of European ancestry. First the researchers used the Cardiochip in a discovery dataset of more than 65,000 individuals from 32 previous studies. They then sought independent replication in other studies covering more than 25,000 individuals, as well as in a previously reported study of 100,000 individuals.
From this meta-analysis, the consortium identified 21 novel genes associated with levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or "bad cholesterol"), high-density lipoproteins (HDL, "good cholesterol"), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), as well as verifying 49 known signals. The researchers also found that some of the strongest signals appeared to be gender-specific — some variants were more likely to appear in men, others in women.
Keating said, "To date, this is the largest number of DNA samples ever used in a study for lipid traits, it clearly shows the value of using broad-ranging global scientific collaborations to yield new gene signals."
Drenos added, "While each of the genetic variants has a small effect on the specific lipid trait, their cumulative effect can significantly add up to put people at risk for disease." He continued, "This study underscores how international sharing of resources and datasets paves the way for robust, continuing discoveries of new and unexpected information from human genetic studies."
Keating and Drenos coordinated efforts among four main data coordinating sites: the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at University College London; AMC, Amsterdam; and the Department of Cardiology at the University Medical Center, Utrecht.
The consortium is following this published work with a project to identify which of the loci reported directly cause disease, and how this knowledge can help in the development of novel drugs. The consortium will also devote its significant pooled resources to identifying interactions among genetic polymorphisms (single-base variations in DNA) and biological markers of downstream cardiovascular disease.
Lead author Folkert Asselbergs, MD, PhD, of University Medical Center, Utrecht, added, "Next to already established drug targets such as the LDL receptor and PCSK9, the current study identified 21 potential new targets for drug development that may be beneficial for the treatment of dyslipidaemia in the future. Our team of researchers are now initiating additional studies to investigate the impact of the found genes on cardiovascular disease."
More than 30 organizations and agencies funded this study, including the U.K. Medical Research Council, the British Heart Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust. In addition to his position at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Keating also is on the faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
"Large-Scale Gene-Centric Meta-analysis across 32 Studies Identifies Multiple Lipid Loci," American Journal of Human Genetics, published online Oct. 11, 2012, to appear in print, Nov. 2, 2012. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.08.032
John Ascenzi, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 267-426-6055 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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This pet-friendly vacation rental in Guejar Sierra can comfortably sleep 8 people in 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The apartment has a full kitchen, laundry, television, internet, and a bbq grill on the balcony. Linens and towels are provided. Canoes/kayaks are also available for guest use. Please note that there is a minimum stay of 7 nights at this property. Guests will receive a 100% refund if their reservation is canceled at least 60 days before the arrival date, and a 50% refund if it is canceled at least 30 days before the arrival date. Guests may check-in anytime after 4 pm and must check-out by 10 am.
Reviews are closed.
PetInstead is a directory for traveling with pets, services for pets, restaurants that are pet friendly and much more. Our website has many listings and continues to grow. Visitors can easily find destinations, services and events to plan their life with their furry friends. We have lots of fun and interesting destinations and outdoor activities to plan that are 100% pet-friendly. You can relax as a pet-owner with the knowledge that all your pet-needs are at your fingertips on PetInstead! We love pets, and we know you do too! We want to make pet travel easier for everyone. We are here to help you find pet friendly accommodations, services, and shops. Whether you are planning a vacation with your pet or just need some new kibble, we will help you find what you need.


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My Husband's Double Life
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The Farr Side: New Christmas albums for 2013
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's time to hear those age-old favorites you've come to know and love each and every year. C'mon, you know what I'm talking about … Gene Autry's "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer," Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."
You can't help but get in the holiday spirit the moment you hear them. That's why there's a new bumper crop of Christmas albums every year. Christmas music is big business. If it's done right, rewards are felt for years to come.
This year is no exception. Several new Christmas albums have been released just in time to make your holidays a little brighter.
My favorite of the new releases is Kelly Clarkson's "Wrapped In Red." It's a perfect blend of something old, something new, something borrowed and something … red.
If you're a fan of Clarkson's music in general, you'll appreciate "Wrapped In Red." The album opens with the title track, which could easily find itself on the Hot 100. Like most of her biggest singles, she helped to co-write the track. I believe that's the magic behind her success.
"Everybody's happy/snow is falling down/prayers are being answered/miracles all around," she sings on "Wrapped In Red," a song that drives the courage to finally tell someone how much you've loved them.
She also co-wrote the tracks "Underneath The Tree," "Every Christmas," "Winter Dreams (Brandon's song)" and "4 Carats."
What is a Christmas album, though, without "White Christmas"? Clarkson does a beautiful job on the Irving Berlin classic. I think even Bing would approve.
Other notable classics revisited include "Blue Christmas," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Run Run Rudolph," "Please Come Home For Christmas" and "Silent Night," featuring Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood.
Susan Boyle is back with her second set of holiday music on "Home For Christmas." Once again, Boyle delivers a beautiful mix of holiday favorites including "Little Drummer Boy," "The Christmas Waltz" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." She also performs in duet "O Come, All Ye Faithful" with Elvis Presley.
Look for other new releases including the first Christmas album by Mary J. Blige, "A Mary Christmas." Also available this year: "Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection" (Jewel), "The King's Gift" (Trace Adkins), "Holiday Songs" (Bad Religion, "Kool For The Holidays" (Kool & The Gang), "Winter Loversland" (Tamar Braxton), "Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas" (Various Artists), "The Classic Christmas Album" (Barbara Streisand), and "Buon Natale: The Christmas Album" (Il Volo).
David T. Farr is a Sturgis, Mich., Journal correspondent. Email him at email@example.com. You can also find The Farr Side on Facebook.


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IconClass Codes:
25F39(DOVE): Other birds: dove
25F23(LION)(+12): Beasts of prey, predatory animals: lion (+ heraldic animals)
31A233: Kneeling figure
24A6: Sun represented as face, wheel, etc.
41D212: Coat, cape
44G3121: Prisoner with hands bound
41D2332: Shoes, sandals
41D223(DOUBLET): Clothing for the upper part of the body (with NAME)
11P31121: Insignia of cardinal, e.g. hat, mantle
31A533: Styles of hairdress
44A31: Banner, standard (as symbol of the state, etc.)
25F33(EAGLE): Predatory birds: eagle
44G3129: (person) in fetters, not imprisoned
25F23(FOX): Beasts of prey, predatory animals: fox
61B2(Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685): Historical person (with NAME)
44G0(+62): Symbols and allegories of jurisprudence (+ condemnation or punishment of the guiltless)
44B62(+02): Bad government
52AA51(+11): Folly, Foolishness; 'Pazzia', 'Sciocchezza', 'Stoltitia' (Ripa) (+ abstract concept represented by female figure)
25F33(EAGLE)(+52): Predatory birds: eagle (+ movements of animal(s))
71F343(+0): Samson ties three hundred foxes two by two by their tails with a fire-brand in between; with the torches on fire he lets them go into the cornfields of the Philistines which are set aflame (+ variant)